Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promises to do all he can to build a coalition in a press conference Monday 27.05.2019. (photo credit: NOAM REVKIN FENTON / FLASH 90)
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Israel will not tolerate the blocking of roads or violence at protests, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday, in his first public comments about the violent protests by members of the Ethiopian Israeli community the night before.
“This community is dear to us,” he said, noting that he is convening an interministerial meeting in the evening set up to deal with problems facing the community. “We will discuss all the issues, but we will also discuss what is intolerable. We are not prepared to accept or tolerate the blocking of roads and the use of violence, including Molotov cocktails against our forces, and the burning of cars or any other civilian property. We are a state of law. We demand that everyone respect the law.”
Netanyahu said that this committee has already discussed the need to change the pattern of the police towards the Ethiopian Israeli community, and that while there has been improvements, more improvements are necessary.
“One thing is certain,” Netanyahu continued, “this can not be dealt with by blocking roads and it can not be dealt with violently.”
Following the riots that occurred throughout Israel on Tuesday, protesters called for further demonstrations on Wednesday, which are expected to be violent.
The organizers of the demonstrations called on the public to join and resume the demonstrations all across Israel. The gatherings were planned to start at 4 p.m. and continue until 6 a.m. The first protests were reported at about 4:30 p.m.
Police are calling on protesters to refrain from using violence and said they will act against anyone who takes dangerous or inappropriate action. The police warned that people should be aware of where protests are scheduled to take place and stay away from those areas.
Police in riot gear along with vehicles that spray “skunk water” were positioned at intersections around the country in preparation for possible violence.
מפגינים שהגיעו להזדהות עם מחאת יוצאי אתיופיה, חוסמים את צומת עזריאלי תוך קריאות “מדינת משטרה” pic.twitter.com/DVI3EUPWlS
— חדשות 13 (@newsisrael13) July 3, 2019
The Shalom intersection next to the Azrieli Towers was cut off to traffic by police on Wednesday afternoon, according to Channel 13.
Clashes broke out between police and protesters who were trying to block the road near Azreli Towers on Wednesday afternoon, Kan news reported. Five protesters were arrested. Most of the protesters at the scene were not part of the Ethiopian-Israeli community, according to Kan.
אחד המפגינים שהגיע לצומת עזריאלי אמר לחדשות 13: “אתם תראו הפגנות לא אלימות כי אנחנו לא אלימים” pic.twitter.com/OSweV2Z5k5
— חדשות 13 (@newsisrael13) July 3, 2019
President Reuven Rivlin reached out to the protesters in an attempt to bring an end to the riots, saying that: “We must stop and think how to continue from here. Let us sit together in peace and discuss how to make a change to prevent the next death from happening, this is not a civil war, it is a joint war.”
Blue and White leader MK Benny Gantz wrote on Facebook in an attempt to bring an end to the riots, writing that: “Your voice and protest had been heard loud and clear. The demonstration is worthy but violence is dangerous; let us not add more pain to the existing one.”
“I visited the house of the Takeh family this morning, who is sitting in mourning for the death of their son Solomon: a painful, infuriating and unnecessary incident,” tweeted former Prime Minister Ehud Barak after he visited the Takeh family on Wednesday.
“The struggle against racism and prejudice requires leadership, determination and perseverance without compromise. The solution must come, because we are brothers,” Barak wrote.
ביקרתי הבוקר בבית משפחת טקה, שיושבת שבעה על מות הבן סולומון. אירוע כואב, מקומם ומיותר.
המאבק בגזענות ובדעות קדומות מחייב מנהיגות, נחישות והתמדה ללא פשרות. התיקון חייב לבוא – כי אנשים אחים אנחנו. pic.twitter.com/zllqG4o9av
— אהוד ברק (@barak_ehud) July 3, 2019
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan together with acting Police Commissioner, Major General Motti Cohen met with representatives of the Ethiopian-Israeli community in order to speak with the Ethiopian community and develop a shared dialogue to try and prevent violence and bodily harm in the protests that will occur on Wednesday. The Deputy Commissioner of Police and Israel Police Command and Ministry of Interior Security also attended the meeting.
Erdan also promised that he would establish a body in the police department to supervise the disciplinary treatment of racist actions by police in orderr to deal with such improper behavior, according to a press release by Israel Police.
“The Israel Police said courageously & honestly in the past that there is a phenomenon of increased policing, & we are fighting it, & we are doing so through cooperation together with you,” said Erdan at the meeting. “There is clearly more to be corrected, however there has been great improvement in the results in recent years in the decrease in the number of arrests & the decrease in the number of indictments, the closure of youth files and increase of many projects such as body cameras that is being implemented.”
“I do not think that the police are perfect or that someone is not responsible,” Erdan added. “We all have a responsibility for human life & a responsibility to try and work to reduce the chances that young people and youths will be hurt tonight when the road junctions will be opened by police.”
“Protesting – yes, but violence & anarchy must not be,” Erdan concluded.
“We are all obliged to restore order so to prevent harm to civilians or policemen,” said acting Police Commissioner Motti Cohen. “The incidents that took place yesterday will not be repeated. The policemen faced the protesters with determination, with courage & understanding, but it is our duty to take responsibility & prevent the continuation of any violence. “
Erdan was quoted on Tuesday as saying that Israel will “fight for the rights of protesters to protest,” but “will not tolerate anarchy,” said on Wednesday that “If the level of violence will be as it was yesterday, we will have to use any means necessary to disperse the riots.”
The wave of protests had been sparked after Solomon Tekah, an 18-year old Ethiopian-Israeli, was shot and killed by an off-duty police officer on Sunday night.
The riots on Tuesday left over 80 people injured, among them 47 were police officers, as police forces arrested 136 protesters.
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